Risk Management

Risk Management Plan

Project: Prayer & Spiritual Learning App (Sakha)

1. Risk Identification & Assessment Matrix

This table outlines the potential pitfalls, how likely they are to happen, and how severe the impact would be on the project mission.

Category	Specific Risk	Probability	Impact	Mitigation Strategy
Cultural & Content	Inaccurate Mantras/Pronunciation: Users (or experts) identify errors in the Sanskrit pronunciation or ritual steps.	Medium	Critical	Vetting Board: Partner with the temples/mutts surveyed to form a small "Content Verification Committee" to approve audio/text before release.
User Engagement	"Too Busy" Churn: Users download the app but stop using it because they still feel they "don't have time."	High	High	Micro-Content: Ensure "Entry Level" prayers require only 2-5 minutes. Use push notifications for specific times (e.g., Brahma Muhurta or Sunset).
Financial	Sustainability Gap: Costs for server/hosting exceed the small revenue generated, leading to shutdown.	Medium	High	Lean Tech Stack: Start with a low-cost backend. Introduce a "Dakshina" (Donation) feature or a low-cost subscription for advanced learning early on.
Technical	Audio Buffering/Offline Access: Users in temples or remote areas may have poor internet, making streaming impossible.	High	Medium	Offline Mode: Allow users to download specific prayer modules for offline use. Optimize audio compression.
Reputation	Commercialization Perception: Users might feel the app is "selling religion" if ads are too intrusive.	Medium	High	Sponsorship Model: Instead of AdMob/Google Ads, look for sponsorships from ethical brands (incense, spiritual books) or Temples, keeping the UI clean.

2. Detailed Risk Mitigation Strategies

A. Content Integrity Risk (The "Trust" Factor)

Since the app deals with Hindu rituals and Mantras, accuracy is paramount. Incorrect chanting is often considered inauspicious.

Risk: Incorrect text lyrics or audio pronunciation.
Mitigation:
- Source Transparency: Clearly cite the source of the prayer (e.g., "From the [Source], Recited by [Name of Mutt]").
- Feedback Loop: Add a "Report Correction" button on every prayer screen so knowledgeable users can flag errors immediately.

B. User Behavior Risk (The "Time" Factor)

You mentioned people are stressful and impatient. If the app feels like "work," they will leave.

Risk: Users feel overwhelmed by the learning curve.
Mitigation:
- Gamified Progression: Do not show the "Advanced Rituals" immediately. Lock them behind simple achievements (e.g., "Listen to Vishnu Sahasranama for 3 days to unlock next level").
- Passive Mode: Include a "Listen Only" mode for commutes, requiring no interaction, just audio.

C. Community & Privacy Risk

You aim to build small communities. Online communities can become toxic or privacy nightmares if not managed.

Risk: Trolling, inappropriate comments, or privacy leaks of community members.
Mitigation:
- Moderation: Use keyword filtering for comments.
- Data Minimization: Do not ask for unnecessary data (like home addresses). Use phone numbers only for OTP verification.
- Focus on goal: Allow users to create "Family/Community Circles" that are invite-only, rather than a fully public forum. Let the groups listen/learn together.

D. Financial Sustainability Risk

Since the goal is not profit but survival, cash flow management is critical.

Risk: Running out of runway (funds) to pay for cloud storage (AWS/Google Cloud) for audio files.
Mitigation:
- Freemium Model: Basic prayers are free. "Learning Modules" (teaching the meaning and step-by-step rituals).
- Nominal cost subscription: Monthly subscriptions at very low cost plans for individuals, promote 1 month subscription for free as gift to new user to increase user base. Slowly promote adoption of subscription for users.
- Medium High cost subscription: This will allow application to make more profits. This profit amount can be used to insentivise the users to learn mantras (Eg. Learn Vayusthuthi, record and send us. If our pannel finds your are good, you will be rewarded with INR xxx.xx and you will move to next level.)

3. Contingency Planning (Plan B)

What do we do if the risks actually happen?

If a major content error is found:
Immediate Action: Disable that specific audio track via the backend immediately. Issue a push notification apologizing and explaining the correction.

If user adoption is low:
Pivot: Shift focus from "Learning" to "Listening." Market the app as a "Mental Peace/Sleep Aid" using mantras, which is a broader market, then introduce the cultural learning aspect later.

If funds run dry:
Emergency: Switch the app to a static mode (content embedded in the app, no streaming) to kill server costs, and launch a crowdfunding campaign within the user base to revive it.

4. Legal & Compliance Note

Copyright: Ensure you own the recording rights to the audio. Do not rip audio from YouTube or other CDs. You must record original audio with priests/singers and sign a "Work for Hire" agreement with them.
GDPR/DPDP (India): Since you are collecting user data, ensure you have a clear Privacy Policy stating you will not sell their data to third-party advertisers.